First, let me explain the setup....I play in a weekend rock/pop/classic band : drums, guitar, bass, some kb, and three vocals. We play in small bars and do a lot of small weddings and conventions. I am the drummer in the band. I've been playing live for 20 years and I work in audio post in the daytime.
Unfortunately, we do sound from the stage most of the time, and did on this gig (Yamaha 01v96).....SO.....I actually didn't have a lot of time listening to them out front, except for during sound check , and then during breaks with BG music.
What I can say is that they handily replaced a pair of Mackie SRM450's. Every bit as loud, wayyyyyy punchier and go deeper...even with the LF and HF switches flat. On this gig, we ran them with a single Mackie SWA1501...one pole mounted on top of that and the other on a stand.
The top end in uncannily smooth. Like really really smooth. Not used to that with these kind of speakers(read <$1000 speakers). Coverage was plenty wide.
During one of the breaks, I simply could not believe how much bottom end they were capable of producing. Turned the sub waaaay down and it was still pumping. I am waiting for the right gig (smaller room) to play without the sub entirely, just to see how they do. I know, the Mackie SWA1501 isn't doing much anyway. We will probably buy the K Sub later this fall, when they're available.
I can't much else about how they sound yet...but I can say they are very light and easy to carry and pack. I love the 'top' handles! I had the pair in the front seat of my 2007 VW Rabbit (one on floor, one on seat). One person can easily put it up on a stand. They look really good with the plain black steel grilles.
So, for me, they have lived up to the claims so far. As much output as....say a Yorkville Unity15P? Not a chance! But at 1/3 the weight and size, I say perfect! No brainer for anyone looking at the Mackies.
On a somewhat unrelated side note, our guitar player took them home for the weekend - put them in the back seat of his Honda Civic,lying sideways on the seat.
Then, driving home, he hit a deer on the highway. Front end damage, cracked windshield, both airbags deployed. Car is a write-off because it's 12 years old anyway. He is fine....and the speakers.....are fine. Not a scratch. I don't remember reading anything about deer collision specifications!!
I'll try to update with some more...useable information about how they sound as we gig with them more. Next weekend is a wedding gig in a small, hard/harsh sounding room. Bring it on!
Cheers
Neal